relinquished

verb

past tense of relinquish
1
as in surrendered
to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress the boy reluctantly relinquished the illegal fireworks to the police officer

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in resigned
to give up (as a position of authority) formally the retiring CEO relinquished his position to the company's vice president with very mixed feelings

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of relinquished The sculptures were among 34 Southeast Asian antiquities voluntarily relinquished by the collector in 2021 after investigators determined they had been looted. — ABC News, 23 July 2026 With the game tied at 60 entering the fourth quarter, Phoenix scored consecutive baskets and never relinquished its advantage. — Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026 In 2021, the unnamed collector who bought them voluntarily relinquished for repatriation nearly three dozen Cambodian and Southeast Asian antiquities purchased from Latchford between 2003 and 2007. — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 16 July 2026 Around 2021, this collector relinquished 34 objects (including the bronze Buddhas). — Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 10 July 2026 Briscoe came out of the pits with the lead with 42 laps to go and never relinquished it despite a strong push from Bell. — Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2026 Willow Nightingale relinquished the championship in May due to a shoulder injury that also forced her out of the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, leading AEW to create this match to crown a new champion. — Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Neusch relinquished fire control to the bio-andy’s tactical routines. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 26 June 2026 The Pacers ended up losing what was essentially a coin flip of odds, and relinquished their draft selection to the Clippers. — Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 24 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relinquished
  1. surrendered
  2. resigned
  3. rendered
  4. abdicated
  5. delivered
  6. renounced
  7. ceded
Verb
  • While Heim and Butler performed well, the rest of the A’s struggled mightily against Red Sox starter Patrick Sandoval, who fanned seven in five innings, and a stellar Boston bullpen effort that surrendered no runs in five innings.
    — Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 30 July 2026
  • Despite three consecutive three-up, three-down innings to start the game, Jared Jones (2-2) surrendered all three runs and struck out five in six innings for the Pirates.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 2026
Definition of surrendered
Verb
  • The first key finance leader to leave Johnson’s administration was Chasse Rehwinkel, who resigned as the city’s comptroller in December 2024 to become Devon Bank’s chief financial officer.
    — Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Koehler said he was resigned that the case would go to trial, until he was notified on Friday that prosecutors had moved to dismiss it.
    — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of resigned
Verb
  • Officers rendered medical aid until paramedics arrived and took over treatment.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
  • While her actual dress featured puffy sleeves rendered in ivory silk taffeta, the backup dress had slimmer sleeves and was made out of white silk.
    — Emma Banks, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of rendered
Verb
  • His grandfather, King Leopold III, also abdicated in 1951 amid a political crisis to safeguard the monarchy.
    — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026
  • For a queen mother to privilege her daughter/queen’s wishes above those of the son/king who abdicated in the night?
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 June 2026
Definition of abdicated
Verb
  • Their perseverance has delivered justice for the Mason family.
    — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • Ads can be delivered based on household-level data, geographic precision, demographic profiles and behavioral indicators.
    — Kris Qiu, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of delivered
Verb
  • In 2021, Princess Mako, the niece of the emperor and eldest child of Crown Prince Ashikino and Crown Princess Kiko, renounced her royal titles and left the imperial family in order to marry her college sweetheart, Kei Komuro.
    — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026
  • What follows are dozens of examples of how those whose names are familiar (or aren’t) and legendary (or infamous) for their actions while representing the state have been embraced (or renounced) by the rest of the country and beyond.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026
Definition of renounced
Verb
  • The duo presided overan unorthodox two-anchor program that ceded viewers, and, eventually, ratings.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Spain disputes this outright, arguing the 1713 treaty ceded only the land and never granted Gibraltar any territorial waters at all.
    — Frank Ahrens, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of ceded

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Cite this Entry

“Relinquished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relinquished. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on relinquished

Nglish: Translation of relinquished for Spanish Speakers

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